My lil reef

[Maxx]

I’m a loner by nature, and I’m also keeping to myself even though florida has opened back up. My parent’s are older and my father just completed radiation treatment for cancer a little over 6 months ago, so I am staying away from them since we don’t know what condition his immune system is in at this point. They are both in their 70’s. I also have no friends that I associate with anymore locally here so my dog is basically it for me. Clyde is a Belgian Malinois, he’s an amazing dog who specializes in “social distancing” (He’s not at all friendly to strangers and extremely territorial) so he’s perfect for these times we are living in LOL.

Sorry to hear of your Father's brush with cancer...hopefully he's cancer free and recovering well.
Maligater's are fun dogs.

We have a Rhodesian Ridgeback that is more sociable than they usually are towards strangers, but he is very protective of my wife and kids.

I work with the public quite abit, and the more I'm around large groups of people, the more I like dogs.
Having said that...there's an interesting show called "Alone" on the History Channel where 10 people go live in the wilderness (Alaska, Mongolia, Vancouver Island, and Patagonia),by themselves and the last one standing get's prize money. The interesting thing to me about the show is that right around days 30-45 people start to go insane from lack of contact. Human's are social critters to at least some extent.

Glad you have someone while all this is going on.

Clyde is a handsome puppy....and I bet he's loyal as the day is long.

Great tank and a great dog.

 

[Maxx]

Yeah Clyde can jump 8’ in the air at a dead sprint and catch a frisbee 99 times out of 100 throws, there’s no escape from a motivated Malinois. I’ve got a fondness for firearms, but my favorites will always be 1911’s I’ve got a couple Ed Brown special forces, and a couple springfield armory. I also have a whole family of Glocks, in 9mm, which is what my EDC usually is these days. I’m a sucker for a nice clean 1911 though. Yes 45cal is my favorite caliber but it gets expensive to practice with these days.

Yesterday was my 44 th birthday, I was half tempted to go get a 460 magnum or 44 magnum wheel gun, but being what’s going on in the world I think I’ll wait for better times to do that lol

Reload....shoot more.
You can also take a look at the Cool Fire Trainer.
My only 1911 is a 1998 vintage Kimber. I know they get alot of hate, but mine is from when they first came out before Cohen took over. It's boring to shoot. Eat's every thing, makes everyone look like a great shooter, never had any malfunctions with it.
I'd love an Ed Brown or a Wilson, but I run out of money before I run out of things to buy. I'm probably going get a Dan Wesson before I can afford an Ed Brown.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Sorry to hear of your Father's brush with cancer...hopefully he's cancer free and recovering well.
Maligater's are fun dogs.

We have a Rhodesian Ridgeback that is more sociable than they usually are towards strangers, but he is very protective of my wife and kids.

I work with the public quite abit, and the more I'm around large groups of people, the more I like dogs.
Having said that...there's an interesting show called "Alone" on the History Channel where 10 people go live in the wilderness (Alaska, Mongolia, Vancouver Island, and Patagonia),by themselves and the last one standing get's prize money. The interesting thing to me about the show is that right around days 30-45 people start to go insane from lack of contact. Human's are social critters to at least some extent.

Glad you have someone while all this is going on.

Clyde is a handsome puppy....and I bet he's loyal as the day is long.

Great tank and a great dog.

Thank you very much! Yes he is as loyal as is possible, I’m not sure he could possibly be any more so. I’ve seen Alone and think I’d probably do pretty well at it. LOL. I agree with you totally about preferring dogs to large groups of people lol.

Reload....shoot more.
You can also take a look at the Cool Fire Trainer.
My only 1911 is a 1998 vintage Kimber. I know they get alot of hate, but mine is from when they first came out before Cohen took over. It's boring to shoot. Eat's every thing, makes everyone look like a great shooter, never had any malfunctions with it.
I'd love an Ed Brown or a Wilson, but I run out of money before I run out of things to buy. I'm probably going get a Dan Wesson before I can afford an Ed Brown.

I’d love to reload, but I also don’t really need another hobby or more equipment at my house. My house currently has a full carpentry shop in it, all the aquarium stuff (looks like an aquarium store exploded) and now a flameworking glass studio, among all the other living necessities lol.

My Ed Browns are pretty boring too, never have any function issues with them, and they always shoot where they are supposed to. I just happened across them well over a decade ago and had money burning a hole in my pocket and after I held one I knew it was going home with me. I’ve never regretted it. I carried the first one for a long time. These days I’m not sure I can afford them anymore either. Wilson combat makes nice stuff but they are way more money than I’d be interested in spending on a pistol anymore.

I’ve held a few Dan Wesson’s and they seem like nice guns, I can’t say I have any experience shooting them. I will say even though I know it is 1911 heresy, but that Springfield Range Officer in 9mm is one of the smoothest most pleasing to shoot of ALL the pistols and calibers I have. It’s a tack driver too. My only beef with it, is the magazines are hard on my thumb when I am loading them (small price to pay). The Ed Browns by far have the nicest cleanest trigger break of anything I own or have tried and are far more accurate than I am.

 

[dragon99]

I’ve held a few Dan Wesson’s and they seem like nice guns, I can’t say I have any experience shooting them. I will say even though I know it is 1911 heresy, but that Springfield Range Officer in 9mm is one of the smoothest most pleasing to shoot of ALL the pistols and calibers I have. It’s a tack driver too. My only beef with it, is the magazines are hard on my thumb when I am loading them (small price to pay). The Ed Browns by far have the nicest cleanest trigger break of anything I own or have tried and are far more accurate than I am.

You nailed it about the Springfield RO 9mm. I never go to the range without out it. I enjoy all of them, but the RO 9mm is absolutely the smoothest and most enjoyable of my small collection. I bought it initially to save a little money vs 45, but now I just enjoy it more.

 

[Maxx]

I REALLY wanted a Springfield, but then they got caught up in politics and after that, I wont buy a one until they get new owners.

I hear you on the 9mm 1911. I've been looking at them as well, but I need to shoot what I have more frequently as it is.
I've heard very good things about the Armscor/Rock Island 1911's by a local smith who builds high end 1911's. He says they are made with good quality parts and can be easily upgraded as time goes on if desired.

Carpentry is something I wish I was better at.

You certainly have alot going on in your house, Rick. When you're busy, time flies.

 

[Rick.45cal]

So back to the topic at hand, sorry to anyone who has had to endure my ”other” hobbies that is not a fan, I’m glad to see other’s appreciate things that I also appreciate.

So my phosphates are down to 0.21ppm via a hanna ULR Phosphorus checker so I removed my GFO and we will see where it goes from here. I may be adding it back soon with some fresh GFO, but I wanted to see what the tank wants to do. Everything is growing like mad and looks super happy and healthy, so I’m pleased.

Took a few pictures today

 

[X-37B]

So back to the topic at hand, sorry to anyone who has had to endure my ”other” hobbies that is not a fan, I’m glad to see other’s appreciate things that I also appreciate.

So my phosphates are down to 0.21ppm via a hanna ULR Phosphorus checker so I removed my GFO and we will see where it goes from here. I may be adding it back soon with some fresh GFO, but I wanted to see what the tank wants to do. Everything is growing like mad and looks super happy and healthy, so I’m pleased.

Took a few pictures today

Wait just a minute! I saw some rock? lol.
Not sure I would do anything as the tank looks spectacular.
I feed heavy and po4 rarely goes to .06.
No3 is 2 ish now.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Wait just a minute! I saw some rock? lol.
Not sure I would do anything as the tank looks spectacular.
I feed heavy and po4 rarely goes to .06.
No3 is 2 ish now.

That’s kind of what I’m thinking I’m most likely going to do is nothing. I’ll test my phosphates again in a few days and see where I’m at before I contemplate doing anything else.

 

[X-37B]

That sounds good. I just started feeding corals but only twice a week.
Oyster feast one day then small amoumt of reef roids the other. This is week 2 and color looks a little better on WD and a few others
So far no rise in po4 or no3.
Just took out the elkhorn montipora hirsuta and put it in the frag tank.
It grew from a 2" frag to this in <6 months.
Will frag and give some frags to anyone local.
It became the coral weed in my tank lol.

 

[Rick.45cal]

That sounds good. I just started feeding corals but only twice a week.
Oyster feast one day then small amoumt of reef roids the other. This is week 2 and color looks a little better on WD and a few others
So far no rise in po4 or no3.
Just took out the elkhorn montipora hirsuta and put it in the frag tank.
It grew from a 2" frag to this in <6 months.
Will frag and give some frags to anyone local.
It became the coral weed in my tank lol.

Yeah most montipora seem to outgrow every other species by a pretty large margin. I’ll probably need to take some of mine out before too long, before they take over the entire tank. Although I know as soon as I do I will regret doing it and miss them.

 

[biecacka]

Rick, amazing look dog! glad you’re doing okay in he “lockdown” I still go to work pretty much daily so for me not much has changed but the traffic on the road ;Wacky
and as always, the tank looks great!

corey

 

[Tahoe61]

So back to the topic at hand, sorry to anyone who has had to endure my ”other” hobbies that is not a fan, I’m glad to see other’s appreciate things that I also appreciate.

So my phosphates are down to 0.21ppm via a hanna ULR Phosphorus checker so I removed my GFO and we will see where it goes from here. I may be adding it back soon with some fresh GFO, but I wanted to see what the tank wants to do. Everything is growing like mad and looks super happy and healthy, so I’m pleased.

Took a few pictures today

Yeah you should be beyond pleased. The tank is amazing.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Yeah you should be beyond pleased. The tank is amazing.

Thank you!

 

[Rick.45cal]

Rick, amazing look dog! glad you’re doing okay in he “lockdown” I still go to work pretty much daily so for me not much has changed but the traffic on the road ;Wacky
and as always, the tank looks great!

corey

Thank you! Stay safe and be well!

 

[Maxx]

What are the dimensions of this tank? I just caught that you have 4 of the Hydro Wizards. What model Hydro Wizard do you have? How long have you had them? What are your thoughts on them overall?

 

[Rick.45cal]

What are the dimensions of this tank? I just caught that you have 4 of the Hydro Wizards. What model Hydro Wizard do you have? How long have you had them? What are your thoughts on them overall?

Tank is 60”x27.5”x27.5” They are ECM 42’s. I’ve had them for going on 4 years now. I love them, they are beyond amazing pumps and really have no desire to replace them with anything or even try anything else. They’ve been flawless, are dead silent and move far more water than any other pump system I have ever seen or used. Every few months I clean them out but that’s the extent of what I have to do to them. They’ve been great, if I ever have to replace them it will be with more ECM 42’s.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Some photos from last night

 

[Maxx]

That Home Wrecker is just awful. Send it to me for proper disposal.


I'm going to have to read this entire thread....

Sigh.

 

[Maxx]

All caught up.
Somehow I missed your woodworking examples on the previous page.

After all of that reading, I'm grateful you decided to share it all with us.

Thank you.

Should you find yourself in StL for any reason, please send me a message. First round of coffee/tea/adult beverage of your choice is on me.

 

[Rick.45cal]

That Home Wrecker is just awful. Send it to me for proper disposal.


I'm going to have to read this entire thread....

Sigh.

Haha! That thing is just horrible right!?!

All caught up.
Somehow I missed your woodworking examples on the previous page.

After all of that reading, I'm grateful you decided to share it all with us.

Thank you.

Should you find yourself in StL for any reason, please send me a message. First round of coffee/tea/adult beverage of your choice is on me.

Thank you for the offer, I’ve been to St Louis several times in my life, but it’s been 20+ years at this point. I will definitely do so if I make it back that way again.